This chapter took me a while to write, and it is a bit longer then the other chapters, but it is a really good one…well I think so anyway. So, when you are done reading, REVIEW! For, well, I have a new thing now, that if I don't get four or five reviews per chapter I will not update until I do.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, but if I did I would name the Arrancars "The Running Cars" for every time I try to pronounce that word it comes out 'a running car'!

Chapter 6

Kiseki

Yukino swept the last of the dust off the ground in the storage room, putting the remains into an empty dust pan. It was getting mighty cold lately, and as she kneeled down, she cold feel the urge to scratch her skin under the wool sweater. It was given to her the day before, and well, she didn't really have the guts to tell Tessai that his sweater material itched like hell. Actually, to be correct, this sweater was pretty...umm...how to put this sweetly. Repulsively and utterly the ugliest article of clothing known to man kind. It was green and pink stripped, and the collar of the shirt was so stretched out that it slid down her shoulder exposing her bra straps and bare skin, making her even colder then she already was.

Knowing that she had to deal with it, since she was practically here for no reason at all, she had to rely on any clothing she could get at this point. Even if it was like the sweater she was wearing right now. So, as she opened a trash can to throw away some of the dust bunnies she had herded, she began to notice that she was actually starting to call this shouten her home. Actually, she had been here for quite sometime. Not months worth, but just enough that she lost count of how long she actually had been here.

It was homey, and she enjoyed the warm feeling she got in every room she traveled in. Actually, by now, she enjoyed doing her chores and seeing everyone everyday. Well, even though Jinta called her Yuki, and Ururu always held her hand down hallways because she knew that she would trip or fall over something, and Tessai giving her the ugliest clothes in the world, giving the idea that he didn't really care about her was a bit of a hit to the ego, she still was fond of it greatly.

But besides that, her life here was something of a blessing. She wasn't in danger anymore, and well, even though she didn't know it, she was always being watched in case she would hurt herself. Yukino always sensed Kisuke's presence behind her when she would be dealing with knives of some sort, cooking appliances, or anything that could put her in danger. She never really noticed, since well Kisuke was probably so sly that he could rob the White House, but she always blushed greatly when she got a quick glance of him watching her. It was cute, and she enjoyed it since she never got that much attention anyway.

Thinking of this at this moment, she reminded of herself of the day that that funny sensation took over her. Her mind set on this thought, knowing that on that day she thought that she only had that sensation for the slight feeling of a cold coming on. Quite frankly, she was wrong. Deep down, she was trying not to accept the fact that she was beginning to form a crush for Kisuke. It was completely normal for her to from crushes over a short period of time, but she didn't know how to handle this one. She barely knew Kisuke at all, and well, in her mind she doubted he felt the same way. Also, she never expected in all her years, she might fall for some guy who actually made fun of her for being a virgin, kept her in his house/shouten just for some…'hat legend', and made her do completely useless chores.

"This is just getting too weird…"

Yukino blinked sleepily as she began to lean against a wall in a far off room away from the rest of the house. The day was a lazy one, and her chores were up for today and there were many hours to get something done. Nothing came to mind though, and well, all she had to do was lean against the wooden wall behind her, occupied by the site of a clean room.

"Well, I see that you are still here. Kisuke still didn't give you up?"

From the corner of her eye, Yukino spotted a black short figure walking silently across the wooden floors. "Oh, hello there Yoruichi-san!" Yukino put her hand up in a friendly jester (just like something Kisuke would do) and smiled at the small figure of Yoruichi. But all she got in return was a stern glare.

"You're wearing my jeans you know?"

Wide eyed, Yukino looked down at her legs, and saw the dark colored jeans snuggly fit around her thighs and calves. In utter confusion, she pointed at the jeans and looked back up at Yoruichi, "But…cats don't wear pants. Unless…you do Yoruichi, which I would then consider getting a much smaller size." A slight crick was heard on the hard wood floor, but they paid no attention to it as Yoruichi jumped up next to Yukino on the counter she was standing next to.

"My, you sure are dense. I swear by now you would have figured it out…"

"Figured out what? That you wore pants?" (A/N: Sounds like something I would say! XD)

"You really are as thick as a brick, aren't you?"

"Well, sometimes it good to be thick as a brick. And I am not thick; I just don't understand how a cat can wear pants. I mean, I have seen dogs wear pants, humans, monkeys, but not cats."

Yukino ended her sentence, and began to notice a slight chuckle coming from before her. In the entrance, leaning against the hem of the doorframe was Kisuke, wearing something different for a change. He had actual modern clothes on, which considered of a pair of old ripped up baggy jeans, along with a baggy sweater that went to his lower waist. The sweater was horizontally stripped black and red, and it was probably dug out of his closet since it seemed quite old. But, that didn't matter…Kisuke in modern clothes actually didn't bother Yoruichi that much since, even though she barely saw him like that, it didn't matter since she knew him too well. Yukino on the other hand was actually feeling like her knees were going to buckle in on her.

That funny sensation was there again, but yet stronger. She felt like she was going to explode with emotion at how good he looked in her eyes, and she could feel her face heating up with embarrassment at her stunned state. Distraction left her body completely unable to figure out what it was doing, and as she became deep in the sensation, she didn't even notice that her foot slipped on the wall she was supporting herself on with. She immediately snapped back to reality, but after her foot hit the floor, the other foot lost it footing and she fell to her right straight into a bucket trash can. (A/N: I said foot a bit too many times in that sentence, didn't I?)

"Oh, are you alright?"

Yukino heard Kisuke's voice soft and sweet as she looked up to find him helping her out of the trash can that seemed to permanently attach itself to her butt. Nothing was as embarrassing as this, but Kisuke didn't mind. He was use to it by now. But, that wasn't the main reason…the main reason was…

Kisuke removed the trash can and soon put it back onto the floor. As he did this, he looked slightly to the area where Yukino was and he immediately got a view of her rear about two feet away from his face. In his head, he wouldn't deny the fact that her ass was nothing to be ashamed of, but seeing how he was looking at her that way was a bit different. If I keep on doing stuff like this…I might as well declare myself having a… He did not continue the sentence in his head, but let's just say, he meant to put the 'c' word there. (I think you know what word I am talking about…c-r-u-s-h….)

"Kisuke…are you alright?"

Yukino looked down, and fully turned around, facing Kisuke. In return, he stood straight up, and looking straight into his eyes, she found no answer. All he did was nod, and soon after that, he walked past her into the middle of the room. A bit of silence cast over the room, and all that could be heard was Jinta screaming at Ururu in a different room about not playing some board game called 'Monopoly' right.

"Both of you," Kisuke had turned around and pointed at both of them with a smile on his face, "I want you (Yukino) to wait with me, and you (Yoruichi) to get ready, for we are all going out!" Even though he did not have his fan out at that very moment, it was quite easy to visualize himself hiding behind it while saying this sentence; smiling a sly grin.

Yukino stood in confusion as Kisuke left the room, and watched as Yoruichi exited towards the right muttering how this was going to be quite an experience…

xXxXxXxXxXx

"Yoruichi…you…"

As the three of them walked, Yukino couldn't stop being so distracted by a fully grown woman with purple hair and dark skin, dressed in a purple sweat shirt, and dark blue jeans following beside them.

"You…can turn…into a cat! That is awesome!"

Yoruichi glared at her and sniggered in what seemed disgust. Yukino waited for some other reply, but yet felt like Yoruichi was giving her the cold shoulder by scooting away from her and going onto the other side of the three. Silence came over them, and Yukino's excited feeling went down with it. Why does she hate me so?

She pondered this thought as they traveled through town, with Kisuke leading them. He was humming softly the tune to the song 'Sweety' by 'Clazziquai Project', while passing many people and stores. The two beside him had no idea why they really did tag along; most likely for the fact that Kisuke always had some weird plan up his sleeve. In any case though, whatever he had in mind, it wasn't going to be a waste of time.

Yukino looked at the bare trees as they walked, and sited beautiful winter festive decorations. It was a wonder how people were always so happy at this time of the year, celebrating winter festivals and holidays. In the spirit world, she was never delighted like she was right now at this time of the year. It was cold, and everyone had a depressing vibe around them, making you feel unhappy at such a blissful time.

"We're here…oomph." Yukino had bumped into Kisuke on accident, not noticing that he had stopped. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Yukino apologize to him while blushing yet again at her embarrassment. Kisuke smiled, showing somewhat of how he felt of Yukino, yet at the same time, still appearing as a mystery to his feelings. On the other hand, while the two stood there like that, Yoruichi watched from the side seeing how something was beginning to form between them. It was defiantly obvious, even to the people walking by.

Looking away from the two at this point, she began to wonder if Kisuke's idea of the hat was actually true. From the looks of things, it was defiantly working out fine from what he predicted, but there was a certain draw back to it. Yoruichi wasn't jealous of Yukino, no way; Kisuke was just like a brother to her. It had nothing to do with the way she was acting, because she was jealous. Yoruichi was just protecting Kisuke, knowing that when you least expect it, something could happen that could break his heart. In all of her years, she would never want to see Kisuke upset ever again.

xXxXxXxXxXx

The shop they had walked into was a thrift store, and the entrance was littered with racks of used clothes of every decent. Kisuke had picked many weird places, but yet again, this was yet another place that he said his 'hat' had found. From the looks of things, it was just like any other thrift store, and nothing was unusual about it. Well, nothing unusual about it, yet.

Yukino stood in the middle of the lobby/entrance of the place, and stood next to Yoruichi who was eyeing Kisuke.

"Okay, you two. I want the both of you to get along and maybe find something nice. Believe me, this place has everything."

Kisuke said this to the both of them, and Yoruichi walked off immediately into the far end of the store after he spoke his last word. Watching her walk away, Yukino fidgeted a little bit and felt uncomfortable shopping with her, but that all changed when she felt warm hands on her shoulders. Against her ear, Kisuke's warm breathe beat against her soft skin, and he began to speak to her in a whisper, making her shiver.

"Don't worry, Yoruichi doesn't hate you. Just go over there and talk to her."

Yukino turned her head slightly, meeting her eyes with Kisuke's bluish gray tinted ones. Slightly grinning at him, she nodded to his advice, and with a step, she walked steadily towards Yoruichi, who stood in front of the used blouses. Her thoughts were ecstatic right now, and as she took in a deep breath, she hoped for the best outcome. (since well, with Kisuke forcing her over to someone who despises her, you never may know the outcome!)

From behind, she could feel Kisuke's eyes watching her, making it seem like he was guiding her onto talking to Yoruichi. Without even thinking about it, Yukino slightly turned around, checking if Kisuke was still there. Indeed he was, and soon after she did that, he waved towards her, mouthing the word 'go' through his smiling teeth. With a bit of hesitation, she stepped forward walking at a humanly pace, relaxing herself with deep breaths.

Everything seemed to be going fine, and as she passed the last aisle to get to the blouse section, she felt as if she could do it…if only someone didn't run out of the aisle beside her, crashing a shopping cart into her hip, making her fall on her butt.

"Oh, I am so sorry! I am in a rush!"

Yukino winced in pain, as she defiantly knew that that was going to leave a bruise. Slightly opening one eye, she looked to find that the person who banged into her was long gone, and people just staring at her for lying on the floor like a total weirdo.No one helped her up, nor even attempted, and she just sighed as she knew that Kisuke was all the way across the store. So, as she got to her feet, she brushed off her jeans, and looked to her side to find that Yoruichi was glaring at her.

Walking over to her, Yukino tried to nip this thing in the bud, but was just ignored as Yoruichi walked the other way. "Yoruichi-san…may…may I ask you something?" Without an answer, Yukino waited patiently, and stood there waiting for some sort of reply.

"Put your arms out."

Yukino eye balled Yoruichi, "My arms…why?"

"Just put them out."

She did so, only to be greeted with a pile of clothes. Yoruichi told her to hold them, and pass them to her as she called for each one in the dressing room. It was a dead silence as she did this, and Yukino could feel her arms getting tired as the she stood there. "Please, Yoruichi-san, may I ask you something?"

Yet no answer again. Yukino waited for her precious answer through the whole pile of clothes, which soon just found themselves back on the blouse rack. Feeling the blood rush into her arms again, Yukino attempted once more, "May I ask you-" "What is it?" From the tone of Yoruichi's voice is seemed as if she was a little annoyed, and Yukino couldn't help but feel even more nervous next to her.

"I want to ask you, do you hate me Yoruichi-san? And if you do, please tell me why?"

Yukino waited for the answer, and saw Yoruichi turn around and make eye contact with her for the first time she was in her true form,

"Do I hate you? No. I do not hate you."

"Then why do you treat me like you do?"

There was a pause, and Yoruichi sighed as she saw that Yukino wanted to know, and she would keep on asking until she got her answer. Looking away, and then looking back, Yukino soon noticed that Yoruichi had changed her expression from annoyed to a more calm and understanding expression.

"You have a crush on Kisuke, and don't even try to deny that."

Yoruichi smiled a bit at her words as she saw that Yukino blushed to her statement, making it true enough to anyone. Watching Yukino's reaction to anything was a bit funny, seeing how she was a klutzy ditz, but she also was a klutzy ditz with feelings, and Yoruichi knew that she deserved the whole story behind why she was treating her the way she was.

"You are blushing, so I will defiantly take that as a yes. Now, you may not know it, but I notice it. Kisuke is my one and only good friend that I have, and have had through my whole life, and I can read him like the back of my hand. As you do, he as well has a crush on you."

Yukino almost choked on her own spit as she tried to swallow at Yoruichi's words. Her face was probably, yet again, the color of a tomato, for the fact that she, Yoruichi, would notice such a thing. "You…you…he…he…he has a…how can you tell?"

Yoruichi laughed, and walked a bit to her left, waving for Yukino to follow her. Feeling less tension between the two, Yukino gladly walked with her, knowing that Yoruichi was defiantly beginning to warm up to her. The both of them walked a bit, and soon got to a little corner, away from the other customers in the bustling store.

"You see, the reason I can tell, is that, way back when I was younger, he use to crush on me all the time. He would act the way he is acting now. You know, watching you from behind a corner, making sure that you can't see him, or maybe doing something nice like this."

Yukino began to fidget with her hands as Yoruichi talked with her like this. It was a bit odd for her to feel for someone like she did right now, for everyone she had a crush on, they never liked her back. Sadly, she wouldn't consider herself ever having a love life, for she either would be too ditzy to be around, or the people she knew would already have someone to have as their own. Yukino was not always alone in the soul society, she had a friends. Okay, she did feel lonely every once in a while when everyone would talk about their love lives, and she had nothing to talk about. Quite frankly, she would just leave when it got to the…you know…personal love life conversation, as she knew that they would defiantly giggle at her for being inexperienced.

"Now, Kisuke, as my good friend, is someone that I care for deeply."

"I understand that Yoruichi-san. Are you treating me like this for you think I am not good enough for Kisuke?"

Yoruichi chuckled a bit, and looked Yukino straight in the eyes, ready to answer her question, "The reason I have been treating you like the way I have been is because, no, not because I think you are not good enough for him, I just think that you might break Kisuke's heart. You don't understand what Kisuke has been through, and I wouldn't want anything in the world to see him mentally and physically break down. He doesn't deserve something that horrible…never again…"

Yoruichi seemed to be distracted by the thoughts that just crossed her mind. She did not speak, but Yukino soon broke the silence, "I would never hurt Kisuke like that. I am too dedicated to something I do, to do cause something like that to happen." The tone in her voice echoed off the close walls, and Yoruichi could tell that she was serious and telling the truth.

The both of them stood there, and as a long period of time passed, Yukino could see that Yoruichi was beginning to tolerate her more. By now, she felt a little bit more comfortable around her, and she at least felt like she could be her friend. Yoruichi could feel it too, and well, she knew that Yukino wasn't that bad of a person to do something like that, she just wanted to get the point across. Truthfully, she was very protective of Kisuke, for she had a tendency now for some reason to make a situation of his a little less lighter on his shoulders by helping him.

Yoruichi stood there, running through her thoughts, just thinking of a sentence to say, even though she had nothing else to add to the conversation. Her eyes were looking away from Yukino, and she was focusing on a coat rack about 50 feet away that was now occupied by some elderly man, who seemed to be shopping with his wife and daughter. She smiled at the site, but soon felt arms around her, making her train of thought disappear. Her eyes looked down to her waist, and saw that Yukino was hugging her.

"I am so glad you don't hate me! I truly hope now we can become good friends!'

Yoruichi heard these words come out of Yukino's mouth as she smiled up towards her, giving sense of happiness.

xXxXxXxXxXx

"What did you get?!?! Did you get me anything, huh?"

It was around nightfall now, and the three of them arrived at the shouten only to be greeted by a very greedy and excited Jinta. He was jumping around Yukino, looking into her plastic bag that had a yellow smiley face on it, with the words 'Have A Good Day' written in blue lettering on the bottom of the bag.

"Jinta, I told you before we left that we were shopping for Yuki-chan."

Great he is calling me it now…Yukino sulked a bit as now Kisuke was calling her Yuki, making her feel even more embarrassed about her name being so close to a guy's. She sighed, and walked past Jinta and soon scooted into her room, sliding the door behind her. As she could hear everything settling down on the other side of the rice paper door, she walked over to the middle of the room, and dropped everything in her bag on the floor.

Everything that Kisuke had bought her considered of the essentials and some random clothing that she liked the look of. Her shirts were mostly long sleeved, and she mostly had khaki pants that were a bit baggy around her lower legs. Quite frankly, she liked the assortment of clothes, and enjoyed going to the thrift store with Kisuke and Yoruichi.

As she thought of this, she was putting on one of her new used (A/N: OXYMORON TIME! XD) sweaters which was a light blue woolen sweater that fit her perfectly. Smiling at how snug she was in the article of clothing, she began to wonder what to do next. It was a bit to early for her to sleep, and they already ate when they were out.

"Hey, you okay in there?"

Yukino turned around to see that Tessai was standing on the other side of her door, and she walked over to it, opening it to see him standing right there in front of her. As she looked up to see his face, she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, I am fine. Why do you ask Tessai-san?"

"Oh well, Kisuke-san wants to see you. He is outside somewhere."

Yukino watched as Tessai soon left after she got her message. Walking on the wooden floor, she listened to her feet clumping on the ground, and as she did this she began to sing to one of her favorite songs that she heard many years before she came here.

"Blues skies to forever, the green grass blows in the wind, dancing. It would be a much better site, with you, with me. If you hadn't met me, I'd be fine on my own, baby. Never felt so lonely-"

"Is that you singing, my Little Bird?"

Yukino was outside of the shouten now, noticing that she was singing throughout her whole walk towards Kisuke. His voice was coming from above, and she turned around to see him sitting on top of the roof right next to a pile of snow. It was the first time that she ever really sung outside of some sort of solitude, and knowing that Kisuke heard her, she felt a bit embarrassed. She wouldn't consider herself that good at all, and well, letting Kisuke hear her was just horrible.

"Kisuke…" She gasped his name in a little whisper, but soon continued on, "Kisuke, Tessai-san told me that you wanted to see me."

Kisuke smiled, and soon thumped the roof next to him with his hand. "Come up here, and take a seat."

As she climbed up there, she sat about an inch away from Kisuke, feeling a little of his body heat radiating against her. Pulling her legs up to her chin, she sighed as she looked out into the night sky, just watching as light snow began to fall.

"So, Yukino, I see that you got along with Yoruichi fine. What did you say to make her warm up to you?"

Yukino shifted her eyes towards Kisuke's, and she paused at his question.

"I...we had a lot in common." A bit of a lie, but Yukino knew that it was still true in a sense. A gust of wind began to blow, and soon after that Yukino felt goose bumps form on her skin under the sweater. Looking over to her, Kisuke could see her shivering under her clothing, making him feel he needed to do something.

"Yukino, you look chilly. Come here, I will help you warm up."

Yukino looked at Kisuke with surprised eyes, but soon scooted closer to Kisuke feeling his warms arms wrap around her. To make herself comfortable, she cuddled into his chest, and rested her head there, literally using him as a pillow. Everything in her seemed to fill with happiness as she felt her body warm up against his. It was comforting, to be this close to him without being offensive, and she enjoyed it so much that she relaxed her whole body, and closed her eyes, just listening to his gentle heart beat.

As she seemed to be dosing off a bit, Kisuke began to stroke her head with his callused yet soft hands, making her body tingle a bit at his gentle touch. Emotion after emotion went through her body, and she was soon literally feeling as if she was Kisuke's lover, just as all her friends in the soul society would explain it as. But, nothing in the world could explain how she felt at this exact moment, and she was sure that by now, she was defiantly staying here

"Kisuke...I am so glad you found me."

She said these words in a whisper, as she fell into a deep sleep in Kisuke's lap.

This chapter was almost impossible to finish, and I bet you guys noticed that is way longer then the others. But, you readers like long chapters anyway…so yeah!

Song List (There were many songs mentioned in this chapters, and I thought I better just explain why I put them in here)

Miracle by Doping Panda – This chapter was named after this song. Kiseki means miracle, and well, I guess it would be a good song to listen to when you are reading this chapter.

Sweety by Clazziquai Project - A very cute song! The English version of this song defiantly matches, and it is one of the two songs that are the theme of this story.

You're Not Here by Yamaoko Akira (Sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn) – Basically this is the second theme of this story. Actually, this song helped me think up a lot of the ideas I have been having lately, for the lyrics go so well with Yukino. Anyway, this song is the theme for Heather (Cheryl, whatever you want to call her) from Silent Hill 3, and well I am glad that I found out about it. It is such a good song!

One more thing though before I leave you guys to the next chapter. If you people don't get the joke why Yukino takes being called Yuki offensively, it is because Yuki is a guy's name, and I think Yukino is the feminine version of that name. Well, anyway, review! I always want reviews…and well, till next chapter!! BAI BAI!